Bad Day

robertglines1 · July 26, 2022, 04:42:05 PM

FWIW I put slides on my xle. the bay doors couldn't go up so I just hinged them on forward side. Used same locking mech and all. Like the evap and condenser doors.

luvrbus · July 26, 2022, 05:23:45 PM

You can do a 2 piece cafe door style also they are easy to do, not my favorite door but they are functional for a BBQ grill on a roll out

windtrader · July 27, 2022, 08:19:55 PM

FYI - RV Doctor George in Sacramento no longer has the shop next door. They are just down to the main property absolutely jammed with every used RV part imageabe. I swung by today looking for the metal tubing that has flared ends and brass fitting to go from the gas supply on the Norcold refrigerator to the pilot. Found an exact match. Yeah!

freds · July 29, 2022, 12:34:35 PM

Quote from: robertglines1 on July 26, 2022, 04:42:05 PM
FWIW I put slides on my xle. the bay doors couldn't go up so I just hinged them on forward side. Used same locking mech and all. Like the evap and condenser doors.

Interesting Idea!!!

Actually the bay door being repaired on my bus from the collision is the one that I want to change on how it opens.

freds · August 11, 2022, 05:59:16 PM

They are finally starting to make progress on repairing my bus!

One of the pacing items is getting the fuel tank out and repairing it. Here's a picture of the previous damage:

Replacing the damaged end:

The tank is the major pacing item as it was deformed and preventing the replacement of the metal support structure for the external stainless steel skins.

Dang it may be done by the end of the month!!!

freds · October 13, 2022, 09:39:07 PM

Hey the repairs are finally done!!!!

Now it's time to get the bus reactivated... I did set it up for what I thought was long term storage mode before I left.

Though my biggest worry was my $5000.00 worth of Tesla battery modules, what if it had a parasitic draw that I missed?

Nope same voltage as when I left it Whew!!!!

The house 12V battery was dead, so had to dig out the battery charger for that.

Anyway here a picture after the repairs.

dtcerrato · October 14, 2022, 06:22:04 AM

Congratulations! It's been a long haul to get it back, enjoy!

windtrader · October 14, 2022, 09:34:14 AM

Back on the road!

freds · October 14, 2022, 10:38:48 AM

Quote from: windtrader on October 14, 2022, 09:34:14 AM
Back on the road!

Just about!

Got a few things to fix before I hit the road:

1. Refrigerator is not powering up and needs cleaning.
2. Have a new fresh water leak that has developed when it is pressurized.
3. A couple of loose solar panels.

Credit card didn't groan too bad paying the bill.

Also buying a new enclosed car hauler to pack the Tesla up into.

Glennman · October 14, 2022, 01:21:40 PM

The bus looks very nice Fred. It looks as good as new.

Tedsoldbus · October 15, 2022, 05:48:44 PM

I almost got as famous as you last week Fred. Stopped the bus short of the barn to check on a few things in the belly. Rita showed up to help guide me into a new spot in the shop. She was in the shop waving me forward. As I moved forward she walked over to the driver side and suddenly looked like I had just run over the dog - so I hit the brakes. I had left one of the bay doors all the way up on driver side. I didn't even see it in the mirror because I was watching her like a hawk.
(Old habit from my flying days. WATCH THE PLANE CAPTAIN.)

I was about 3 feet from coming into the shop. I got out, felt stupid, and was furious at myself from not doing my walk around EVERY time before I put it in gear. As it turned out, the bay door would have cleared the door jam. But so what. STUPID!

So as you venture out in your new bus my friend, remember what BusWarrior taught me.

Watch it Start
Watch it Turn
Watch if Finish

Best advice I ever got driving this bus

(and don't drive it into the shop with your new bay door open)

Glad you are back on the road!

freds · October 15, 2022, 07:16:18 PM

Quote from: Glennman on October 14, 2022, 01:21:40 PM
The bus looks very nice Fred. It looks as good as new.

Thanks!!!

They cut up the damaged panel to get the docking light and in the process inserted a piece of metal that doesn't really look stainless like the rest of the metal in that area.

My first two items:

Refrigerator was fixed once the house battery came up to full voltage.
Water leak was a loose connector for the ICE maker.

In fixing the fuel tank they screwed up the plumbing for the shower which took a few hours to get right again.

So hey I may be able to take a shower in the morning LOL!!!

Having a problem with the battery management system for my Tesla Battery modules that is concerning me.

Since that is tied to the Victron solar equipment it's not allowing power delivery from the solar panels.

But hey getting closer to heading down the road.

Having a car hauler trailer delivered Monday to load the Tesla up in and drag it behind me in my travels. Can't flat tow an EV...

freds · October 15, 2022, 07:19:35 PM

Quote from: Tedsoldbus on October 15, 2022, 05:48:44 PM
I almost got as famous as you last week Fred. Stopped the bus short of the barn to check on a few things in the belly. Rita showed up to help guide me into a new spot in the shop. She was in the shop waving me forward. As I moved forward she walked over to the driver side and suddenly looked like I had just run over the dog - so I hit the brakes. I had left one of the bay doors all the way up on driver side. I didn't even see it in the mirror because I was watching her like a hawk.
(Old habit from my flying days. WATCH THE PLANE CAPTAIN.)

I was about 3 feet from coming into the shop. I got out, felt stupid, and was furious at myself from not doing my walk around EVERY time before I put it in gear. As it turned out, the bay door would have cleared the door jam. But so what. STUPID!

So as you venture out in your new bus my friend, remember what BusWarrior taught me.

Watch it Start
Watch it Turn
Watch if Finish

Best advice I ever got driving this bus

(and don't drive it into the shop with your new bay door open)

Glad you are back on the road!

Hey Tod I did that myself and tore up the plastic on a friends bumper!!! Handle was sticking out...

Yes a full walk around before moving the bus is now on my pre-movement check list!!!

dtcerrato · October 16, 2022, 07:13:13 AM

I pulled out of the shop once with a compartment door open - it made contact with a hollow core interior door to the shop bathroom & made a racket as it was "cutting into" the hollow core door before I realized what was happening and stopped. No damage to the bus though!
Stupid stuff happens when we get complacent!

freds · October 17, 2022, 06:28:11 PM

Well the nightmare/saga is just about over!!

I noticed that the grounding wire for the fuel tank wasn't hooked up as I was fixing the shower drain plumbing that they disturbed.

So, I checked the fuel gauge and it only showed that the tank was about a quarter full WTF???

Got the ground wire hooked up and no change. I know that it was at least two thirds full when I handed it over to them as I had driven directly to their facility after my last top off.

So I stuck a stick in the tank and it was below where the stick could reach which would be about half a tank.

Long story short they de-tanked to one fuel cell and in their shop chaos refilled from another.

If I hadn't noticed it; I would have left without 100 gallons of fuel that I paid $3.89 earlier in the year.

Local price for diesel is about $6.50 a gallon here in LA.

They found my fuel cell but can't get the pump to work to pump the fuel out of it (Groan). They have now hooked up a 4GPM water pump to move the fuel so thinking it will take 40 minutes or so move it.

So, I could say as precaution when leaving your vehicle at a maintenance facility for a long time. Get a stick long enough to dip the tank and record the level for a recheck before departing.